The Mayor's Cable Street anniversary speech

On Sunday 9 October the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, attended an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street.

Read: a summary of Sadiq's speech

Eighty years ago – in October 1936 – thousands of brave and courageous men, women and children gathered to oppose fascism on what became known as the Battle of Cable Street.

That day, Mosley’s fascists were forced into a humiliating retreat - something achieved only through the power of people and communities coming together. A coalition was formed of Jewish East Enders, Irish dockworkers, trade unionists, Labour party members and many more – a coalition of people coming together in solidarity to reject fascism and everything associated with it.

This was an historic turning point. A victory that had lasting repercussions because it showed that fascism could be resisted through communities uniting – something that should continue to inspire us now.

I was proud to join today another coalition – a coalition of politicians, the Jewish community, trade unions, anti-racist organisations, Bangladeshi associations and many others. Not only to honour and remember the brave people who fought against fascism in 1936, but to show our commitment and resolve now – 80 years on – to continue that fight.

To say: when we see things that are divisive, go against our British values and are just fundamentally wrong – we must call them out. And to say: we’ll never let fascism, racism or prejudice prevail.